Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

True innovation is seldom the work of solitary genius. Rather, it is driven by the convergence of many opinions, skill sets, and life experiences—which is why diversity and inclusion isn’t just good for society, it’s good for business.

At Johnson & Johnson, our commitment to diversity and inclusion stretches back over a century. In 1886, James Wood Johnson and his brothers wanted to found their own company with the best workers they could find—the most highly skilled, the most willing to innovate and try new things. Of the 14 employees willing to leave the established company of Seabury & Johnson and follow his vision, eight were women.

Since then, our leaders have furthered our commitment to these ideals in different ways—including Robert Wood Johnson, who first articulated our obligations to our own employees in Our Credo in 1943. When we celebrated the 75th anniversary of Our Credo in 2018, we strengthened the power of this historic set of values to propel us forward into a better future by adding new language to the second paragraph that makes our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion even more explicit.

As Chairman & CEO, I have made it my personal mission to build a workplace where everyone feels they belong. Our entire Executive Committee is working to ensure this priority is integrated into every facet of their organizations and strategies. As Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Business Roundtable and a supporter of the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, I am equally committed to collaborating with other business leaders to advance these ideals around the world.

If we truly want to change the trajectory of human health, it’s critical that we unleash the full potential of our 140,000-strong workforce. Every employee at Johnson & Johnson is one of a kind—and the way each one thinks, feels, speaks and brings his or her most authentic self to work is a unique reflection of where they come from.

The fact that a company like ours has such a diverse and inclusive workforce driving business results for today and innovation for tomorrow means that we have an incredibly powerful story to share. I hope you enjoy reading this inaugural review of how we’re living into our commitments—and that you’ll join me in working to do even more in the coming year.

Alex Gorsky

Chairman and CEO